Can pouring device



Nov. 14, 1939. E. J. wlLLls CAN POURING DEVICE Fild March l, 1939 INVENTOR.

2h/4H J. /V/LL/I l BY @u ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES GAN PO-URING DEVICE Elijah J. Willis, Morehead City, N. C., assignor of one-half to Jasper B. Frizzelli, lSnow Hill,vv

Application March 1, 1939, Serial No. 259,242`

5 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of pouringv devices for use in connection with sealed cans and similar metal containers.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved pouring device for cans and the like, which is capable of ready application to the side of a can at either end and which is provided with means operable to pierce the can wall and to deliver the can contents through the pouring spout associated with the piercing means.

Another object is to provide in a device of this character a novel assembly of can piercing and pouring spout, together with means for operatively engaging the same with a can and maintaining the engagement throughout its period of use.

Other objects will be readily apparent as the description proceeds.

While the herein described embodiment illustrates and discloses the best means I have thus far devised for reducing the invention to practice, it is to be understood that the structural details and arrangement of parts may be varied as desired within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the attachment as engaged with a can prior to movement of the piercing member to penetrate the can wall, the can being illustrated in section.

Figure Z is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating the position of the parts after the piercing member has been forced into and through the can wall.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a Vertical section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 2, illustrating a detail of the lever holding means.

Figure 7 is a section similar to Figure 3 but illustrating the spout as inclined for pouring oi the contents of the can.

The attachment comprising this invention is preferably constructed of light metal parts and comprises a support or base shaped to be engaged over one end edge of the can at any peripheral point thereon and which carries a frame that extends laterally from the base and slidably mounts therein a combined pouring spout and can wall piercing member which is reciprocated Within the frame radially of the associated can by means of a manually operable lever fulcrumed on the frame. As the lever is operated the piercing member and its associated spout is moved correspondingly in the frame to pierce and enter through the can wall whereby the can contents may be poured out through the spout.

(Cl. :B21-23) In-detail, the base consists of a substantially' U-shaped support having a bight bar 8 of arcuate form, and substantially parallel legs 9 which are formed at their outer ends with reversely bent ilange engaging members II). The flange engaging members I are connected by an integral strap piece which occupies a plane perpendicular to the plane of the legs 9.

When the attachment is associated with a can,

as clearly shown in the drawing, the strap provides a member flatly engageable against the can end I2; the dimensions and arrangement of the strap being suiiicient to insure that it shall extend over an appreciable area of the can end. At the same time, the legs 9 and bight bar 8 lie along the side wall I3 of the can with the bowed portions Il) engaged over the end flange of the can. A hand grip extension I4 forms a part of the base and preferably extends from the midpoint of the bight bar 8 in a direction opposite that in which the legs 9 extend.

Extending laterally outwardly with respect to the base is a frame, comprised in this instance, of three parallel rods |5, I6 and |'I arranged in triangularly spaced relation with the lower rod I extending from the mid-point of the bight bar 8 to which it is suitably connected, and with the two upper rods I6 and |'I extending in a common horizontal plane and in parallel relationship from the respective legs 9 of the base and to which legs the rods are attached at one end. At their outer ends the rods I5, I6 and I1 are connected and maintained in rigid spaced relationship by means of a substantially V-shaped end piece I8 which carries at its apex portion in vertical alignment with the lower rod I5, a lug I9 supporting a pivot pin 20 passed transversely therethrough and through the adjacent end of an operating lever 2| that is iulcrumed in the frame upon the pivot pin 2|). This lever 2| is fulcrummed at its inner end to swing in a plane that extends substantially axially of the lower frame rod I5.

A hollow tubular pouring spout 22 is slidably associated with the frame for reciprocation therein in a radial direction with respect to the can with which the attachment is associated in service. The lower or inner end portion of the spout is disposed between the frame rods I5,

I6 and |'I and is slidably supported upon and guided by these rods by means of integral lugs 23, 24 and 25 which extend from the body of the spout and which are apertured for slidable engagement over the respective rods. At its base or inner end the spout 22 is formed with an integral hollow tubular can piercing section 26 having an inclined cutting edge 21 at an angle oblique to the axis of the piercing section. The piercing section 26 is surrounded by suitable Washer means 28, preferably of rubber or similar composition, to provide a seal which prevents leaking of the can contents when the piercing section is forced through the can wall.

The spout member 22 is operatively connected with the lever 2l by means of a link 29 that is pivotally connected at one end to a lug 30 formed on the spout member and also pivotally connected at its other end to the lever. Outwardly of the point of connection with the link 29, the shank of the lever 2| is oiset as at 3| and is then continued in a relatively long handle portion 32 which occupies a plane in substantial registry with the axis of the frame rod I6. By means of the oiset SI it will be apparent that the handle portion 32 of the operating lever will clear the spout member as the lever` is rocked on its fulcrum. The operating lever is curved throughout the extent of the oiset portion 3I so that when the lever is drawn inwardly in order to effect a piercing of the can, its handle portion 32 will extend across the can end I2 and lie substantially parallel thereto, as best shown in Figure 2.

It will be noted that the power transmitted from the operating lever through the link 29 is supplied to the spout member 22 in the axis of the tubular piercing section 26, or substantially so, so that the major force of the operating movement is directed to the cutter 26. The base leg 9 which is adjacent the frame rod I6 is provided with an upstanding bifurcated extension 33 between the arms of which the handle portion 32 of the actuating lever is adapted to be frictionally clamped when the lever is drawn in over the can end, thus providing a means for latching the lever in that position.

The operation of the attachment is believed to be obvious. In use the base is applied over one end edge portion of a can with the end ange engaged in the holding member IU. The attachment vis usually applied in an axial direction over the can end with the ngers of the operator engaging the hand grip I4 and pulling the attachment axially inward with respect to the can. When the attachment is so located, as shown in Figure 1, the handle portion 32 of the operating lever 2I is grasped and the lever is swung inwardly in a radial direction with respect to the canto occupy the position shown in Figure 2, extending inwardly across the end I2 of the can. As the lever moves inwardly its force Will be transmitted through the link 29 and -Will cause the spout member 22 to move radially of the can in the supporting frame. This movement of the spout member forces the cutter 26 into and 'through the can wall until arrested by the cutting engagement of the washer 28 which effectively seals the opening against exterior leakage. When the can is tilted into the position shown in Figure 'l its contents may be readily poured out through the spout as indicated.

The engagement of the handle portion 42 of the operating lever with its latching member 33 serves eiectively to maintain the piercing section 26 properly engaged in and through the can wall until the lever is released, making it unnecessary to hold the lever after it is once drawn in to force the piercing section into and through the can wall.

The pouring device of this invention is easily applied over `a can end and requires no multiple adjustment. The operation of application is a simple one of moving the device axially over one end edge portion of the can at either end of the can, and this is followed by a simple movement of drawing the portion 32 of the lever inwardly of the can to extend down across the end of the can. This movement of the lever forces the tubular piercing section 26 into and through the can wall and permits the egress of the can content through the hollow piercing section and the spout. The spout is guided by and between the frame bars I5, I6 and I'I and due to its three point engagement it is maintained at all times in its proper relative position with respect to the reremainder of the parts of the attachment.

I claim:

1. A pouring attachment for sealed metal containers comprising a support engageable over one end edge of a container, a frame extending laterally from said support, a spout member slidably reciprocable in said frame, a hollow tubular container wall piercing portion carried by the inner end of the spout member and movable therewith, and an actuating lever fulcrumed in said frame and in operative connection with said spout-member whereby to move said member toforce the piercing section in and through the container wall.

2. A pouring attachment for cans, comprising a frame adapted to be applied over a peripheral end edge portion of a can in attaching relation thereto, a spout member slidable in said frame for movement radially of the can, a can wall piercing section carried by said spout member, and an operating lever fulcrumed in said frame and in operative connection with said spout member for moving the same within said frame.

3. A can pouring attachment, comprising a support adapted to be applied over one end of a can and'having a portion lying along the can wall, a plurality of guide rods extending laterally outwardly from said support and that portion which lies along the can wall, a spout supported by said rods and slidably engaging the same for movement radially vof the can, a piercing section carried by said spout, and means for moving said spout along the rods in said frame to force said piercing.- section into and through the wall of a can 'towhich the attachment is applied.

4. A pouring attachment for cans, comprising a support adapted toA be applied over one end of va can and having a portion lying along the can in the outer end of said frame, and a power link operatively connecting the lever and spout in the axis of movement of the piercing section.

5. A pouring attachment for cans comprising a support adapted to be engaged over one end edge of a can, a frame extending therefrom, a spout slidable in the frame and having a can piercing portion, an actuating lever fulcrumed in said frame and operatively connected to said spout, said lever'having a handle curved to extend across the can end when in one position, and means on said support engageable with the handle when in said position to latch it against movement from that position.

ELIJAH J. WILLIS. 

